Objective: To create an entertaining and informative podcast that features a handful of science articles.
Introduction: Reading Science articles is a great way to understand some of the current (or not so current) topics in Science. In Science education, there is a classic lesson in which the students choose an article, read it and share a summary of it with their classmates. This assignment is similar, but in this case you will be making an audio podcast in which your group (you choose) gets together and discusses a topic you have agreed upon. Each member of the group will find a different article that touches on the same topic theme. Your discussion will have specific articles to talk about, but you should also be able to discuss the overall theme intelligently. This means sharing your articles with each other and also researching some of the background information so often lost in science articles. Once you have a working knowledge of the topic, your team will get together and record a 15-20 minute podcast in which you talk about the articles and the science behind them. Once finished, the podcasts will be posted where your classmates can listen, learn and enjoy them.
Guidelines:
The podcast topic must be science related (though not necessarily Biology related) and agreed upon by all group members.
Individual's articles must be made available to everyone (best done by links).
The tone of the podcast may be fun (let's face it, you'll need to do some entertaining to keep people listening), but there must be substance and the podcast must be clean (no foul or inappropriate language or lewd references etc.)
You will get bonus points for getting an "expert" to weigh in on your topic. This may be live or may be from a conversation you record.
Calendar:
4/1- Choose your topic, choose your group
4/13- Share articles with your classmates and discuss the background material that you feel you need to research.
4/19- Discuss the background information. You can discuss the different articles, but think about how spontaneous you want the podcast to be. You can also begin to discuss the "feel" of the podcast. Are you a serious group or would you rather have fun while sharing information. Your call.
4/20- Learn the basics of Audacity. This is the program you will use to record your podcast. We will do a tutorial and some "trial and error" playing with the program in class.
4/21- "Dress Rehearsal"- You and your teammates will get together and simply discuss some of what you have found and some of what you would like to talk about during the podcast. Since Jon will not be in school, you will not be recording this session.
4/30- RECORDING DAY. We will use our lab period to record the podcasts and (if possible) publish them. If we cannot edit and publish today, we will pick a later date.
Introduction: Reading Science articles is a great way to understand some of the current (or not so current) topics in Science. In Science education, there is a classic lesson in which the students choose an article, read it and share a summary of it with their classmates. This assignment is similar, but in this case you will be making an audio podcast in which your group (you choose) gets together and discusses a topic you have agreed upon. Each member of the group will find a different article that touches on the same topic theme. Your discussion will have specific articles to talk about, but you should also be able to discuss the overall theme intelligently. This means sharing your articles with each other and also researching some of the background information so often lost in science articles. Once you have a working knowledge of the topic, your team will get together and record a 15-20 minute podcast in which you talk about the articles and the science behind them. Once finished, the podcasts will be posted where your classmates can listen, learn and enjoy them.
Guidelines:
Calendar:
Links to Science Podcasts:
Scientific American
Scient...Sort Of
Open Culture (A variety of podcast links)
Links to Podcast Information:
Education Podcast Network
WIkipedia Article on Podcasting
How to create your own podcast article
Cali Lewis on what goes into a successful podcast
ZDNet- Making a good first impression
Audacity Download